Peterborough United's chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, has launched an astonishing attack on the club, claiming team spirit has been undermined by "greed, skulduggery, tapping up and disloyalty from within".

Posh are bottom of the Championship, nine points adrift of safety, having won just three times in the league this season. Darren Ferguson, the manager who had guided them to two successive promotions, parted company with the club in November and was replaced by Mark Cooper.

In a lengthy statement on the club's official website, MacAnthony said: "I have to apologise to all Posh fans for this season up until now and for all the events on and off the field. It has been nothing short of a disaster and I can of course understand their frustrations.

"I am done with defending the players, previous management, current management and everyone else at the football club top to bottom. Nobody has been good enough this season and we have failed our fans in the worst possible way and this has resulted in us being bottom of the league and heading for League One in a hurry.

"I promise the fans this will be the last time I speak in the press this season, but some home truths need to be told and as always I like to be honest with the fans and as open as possible.

"The team spirit from the last two years has nearly been destroyed by greed, skulduggery, tapping up and disloyalty from within and this has all occurred over the last 120 days or so, non-stop and is eating away at our inner core."

The chairman also had harsh words for the club's players, telling them to "grow up". "They repay the club with below-par performances, temper tantrums off the field and making it clear they no longer want to play for our club when the going gets tough," he said. "Well it's time for all of these players to grow up and act like professionals."

In response, Ferguson said: "I am not happy about what was said and have to defend myself against allegations of tapping up the Peterborough players and other items. I got the club into the Championship for the second time in 75 years and we should just leave it like that.

"It seems like they are trying to ruin my reputation. I wish I didn't have to talk about those comments but I'm sure people appreciate my need to give my reaction.

"I hope Posh stay up for the fans, the players and their manager Mark Cooper, but it will be hard for them."